Find all of Jonny's podcasts and articles via his Substack channel. You can support him by buying a coffee here. With thanks to the Anglo-Israel Association and ELNET UK, it was a pleasure to hear Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus. A former international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, where he served for 24 years as a combat commander, military diplomat and strategic communications officer, Conricus is now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, specialising in Middle East security and regional affairs. As he often points out, he now speaks as an independent voice rather than on behalf of the Israeli government or military. In this concise briefing, Conricus gives a sobering yet at times cautiously hopeful assessment of the region. Gaza, despite the terrible bloodshed and the sacrifices being made by IDF forces, remains bleak and unresolved. On Lebanon, he noted signs that the weakening of Hezbollah may be allowing some Lebanese voices to express a very different attitude towards Israel. On Iran, he suggested there are still grounds for cautious optimism that internal pressure could eventually bring change. He also addressed the alarming worldwide surge in antisemitism since October 7th, which he described as having grown far beyond what many imagined possible. Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices